Checkout Lane: Sizing up the summer heat

Monday

Jun 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMJun 30, 2008 at 3:32 AM

Central air-conditioning should be customed-sized for your home. A unit too small will run all day, and one too big will fail to sufficiently remove humidity, says Sahin Gulsen, owner of Plymouth air conditioning provider Frugal Air.

A.J. Bauer

When it comes to installing a central air conditioning system, size matters. Sahin Gulsen, owner of Plymouth air conditioning provider Frugal Air, said if a unit is too small it will run all day trying to get the house cool and never get the job done. If it’s too big, he said, it won’t sufficiently remove humidity.

The key is to find a contractor who can pick the right size of equipment.

Also, make sure the contractor plans to locate the return air grate on the ceiling of the house’s highest floor.

Ken Williams, president of Quincy air-conditioning installer Scott-Williams Inc., said some contractors place those grates on the floor, which he said leads to an inadequate system.

“As the air warms, it rises to the ceiling and that’s why you want the return placed on the ceiling,” said Williams, who recommends asking the contractor to write an adequate return air grate into the quote.

Another thing to look for is a unit’s efficiency rating. Williams said the current standard for efficiency, measured using what’s known as a seasonal energy efficiency ratio, is 14 SEER.

Systems with higher efficiency ratings are more expensive, he said. And with the New England air conditioning season as short as it is, a more efficient system may end up costing more for nothing, he said.

“It’s not like in Florida where it could potentially run for 12 months a year,” Williams said. “So I tell customers to be a little careful about overspending for the higher efficiency units. It may take a long time to get your money back – if ever.”

An air conditioning system can cost up to $10,000 or more, depending on the size of the house, Williams said. Much of that cost, he said, involves installing the ducts necessary to circulate the air through the house. For houses that use a forced-air heating system – and already have ducts – the price for air conditioning is a much more manageable $4,000, he said.

A.J. Bauer may be reached at ajbauer@ledger.com.

COOLING OPTIONS

Split System Central Air: The traditional ducted air conditioning system allows for cooling of an entire house without the noise and inefficiencies of a window unit in every room. Ductless: An option for homes without ducts, the system works best in homes with open floor plans. It allows for decent cooling, while relegating the noisy part of the air conditioning process to the outdoors. Portable: Also known as the window unit, this is the best option for someone on a budget. These units are generally noisier, may allow some warm outside air in and cool a limited amount of space, but they do make a difference.

Source: www.airconditioninghelper.com.

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